Making Tax Digital for VAT

Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTD) finally comes into effect  from April 2019, but only for certain businesses. The April 2019 launch will only apply to VAT registered traders. More specifically, MTD will apply to businesses who have a turnover above the VAT threshold – the smallest businesses will not be required to use the system, although they can choose to do so voluntarily.
Live pilot studies are already being carried out and the first businesses have started keeping digital records and providing updates to HMRC to test and develop the MTD service for income tax and NICs. HMRC is keen to expand this pilot.
HMRC announced in 2017:
We will start to pilot Making Tax Digital for VAT starting with small-scale, private testing, followed by a wider, live pilot starting in Spring 2018. This will allow for well over a year of testing before any businesses are mandated to use the system. No business will be mandated before 2019.
From April 2019, businesses above the VAT threshold will be obliged to keep their records digitally and provide quarterly updates to HMRC for their VAT.
We will keep an eye on the results of the pilot studies and monitor the progress of accounting software providers to create the necessary links with HMRC’s digital systems.
If you are registered for VAT, have annual turnover above the current £85,000 limit, and have not yet considered how you are going to cope with Making Tax Digital for VAT, please call so that we can help you research your options.